Lamp receptacle



July 30, 1935. M N RUSSELL 2,909,523

7 LAMP RECEPTACLE Filed June 9, 1955 Patented July 30, I935 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE v I V x 223095 23. ,y t

' V E P AQ E Mark N. Russell, Syracuse, N Y., assignor to Pass & Seymour, 1110;, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporati n of New York Application June19, 1933, semi ydjfs'zsuso-f solemn-(c1. 173'' 339)1:

This inventionrelates toelectric lamp recep-- tacles, and more particularlyto such receptacles having'means for locking the'parts thereof to' gether. e f It is a general object of the presentjinvention to' provide a novel and improved lamp'receptacle and locking means therefor. Y

-More particularly it is an object 'ofthe invention to provide, in a receptacle of the type having a socket part, an insulating sleeve and a ring threaded onto the screw shell between which and the sleeve is clampeda portion of the'fixture or'the like for supportingthe receptacle, means for locking the receptacle parts together so that v during use the receptacle cannot become loosened in the fixture.

An important feature of the inventionresides in the provision of the locking spring carried by the socket portion and engagingmeans on :the ringto lock the same against rotation relativeto the socket portion.

Other and further featuresand objects: ofthe invention will be more apparent. to those. skilled in the artvupon a consideration of. the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary :embodis ment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changesmay be made therein as fall within the scope'ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7 V

Insaiddrawing: V Figure l is a side elevation of a receptacleconstructed according to the present invention, parts being broken away to illustrate theinterior construction and a fragment of a fixture being shown in central vertical section; g I

Figure 2 is a face view of thereceptacle'with the ring removed; I v j c, Figure 3 is afragrnentary radial section online 3.-3 of Fig. 2; and j j 1 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking spring.

Large numbers of ceiling and wall fixtures at present in 'us e are of-the'type known as ceiling bands wherein a metal canopy has an inturned perforated'flange which receives a receptacle and is in turn clamped between two parts thereof. 'In the usual construction the receptacle includes asocket portion, a sleeveof insulating material,

usually porcelain, surrounding the'terminals and other parts thereof and leaving mostof the screw shell exposed. The screw shell is inserted .through the opening in theflange of the ceiling band with. the low ren i th ns la inas esyfi abuttingfthewback of this flange. A porcelain or similar. insulating ring is then screwed over the screw' shellfan'd engagesdirectly or through a gasket the under surface of the flange thus clamping the flange between the ring and sleeve to hold the receptacle imounted in position. Most of the receptacles areof the pull chain type and the continuedoperation of the pull chain tends to loosen the receptacle in the flange so thatfeventually't'here is a possibility of a short circuit or at least of 'a connection between the screw shell and the metal of the fixture sothat in certain communities the regulations do not permit thistype of fixture to'be used any longer, although-'it'is one of great popularity and widespread usefor offices,"hallways, kitchens, porches andthelike."

'-The" present invention contemplates suchan improvement in receptacles of the type described that there is no possibility of loosening of the parts'afterassemblingfso that complete acceptance ofthis type of receptacle has been'obtaine'd from theauthorities in several important metropolitan' centers.

1Ceiling bands are of various types, but that shown in fragmentin Fig. 1 is representative. It includes a stamped or'spun metal canopy ID the base of'which abuts the" ceiling or wall. The outer end is inturned-at 11,- which is'hereafter called the flange, and provided with central aperture l2 forthe passage of parts of the receptacle. Often- .times thej band is provided with a shade holder or some'downwardlyprojecting part l3 which is conveniently-provided with a similar flange and. the'two ;fiange partssecuredtogether by lockseaming, spot-weldingjor soldering.

The receptacle is of more qr'less conventional formas soldby a number of manufacturers and includes the; removable interior or socket part, in the present case consistingof a pair of spaced insulationbuttons l5 andl6 supporting between them the pull chain switching mechanism, not shown, and I being secured together by metal straps l1 and, I8 carrying the terminals I9 and 29 for'the attachment of wires.

On-the outer-or front face of button I6 is secured thescrew shell 2i for thereception of a lamp base.. This screw shellhas inturned base flanges 22, seen in Fig. 2, secured to the button by means of screws123, 24. H

- The -second part of the receptacle comprises sleeve 2 5 of porcelain or the like arranged to snug.-

.ly receive from the rear the socket portion. and of such length that when the porcelain buttons are rhoused. withirrtheslgaeve with-the outer face of After wiring the socket structure, it is inserted.

from the rear into the sleeve and the screw shell then passed through opening l2 until front face 26 of the sleeve abuts the rearof flangeJJ. Then the outer ring 30, or thlrdxpart of the receptacle, is applied to the screw shell by being threaded over the same to insulate it and to hold-the whole. receptacle assembled in position."The upper or inner end of ring 30 has shoulder 3| against which rests. gasket 32 which engages the lower face of flange I l and resiliently clampsthe whole assem-' bly together. Spaced radially inwardly from'this shoulder is tubular projection .33 of sufiicient length not only to centralize thegasket but to be receivedlpartially into counterbor'e 34 at the front end of the sleeve. This projectionpasses clear through opening l2 in flange ii 'and'interposes a rigidinsula'ting ring between the live metal of the screw shell and the metal ceiling band, absoca I lutely preventing electrical engagement between these parts when the receptacle is properly assembled. a

It can be seen however, from Fig. 1 that on partial unscrewing of ring 30 it would be possible for contactfto occur between the screw shell and the flange II. To prevent the possibilit of the parts loosening duringuse Sothat this could happen, the inner edge of projection 33 is toothed or provided with ratchetlike portion .35, and for engagement with these teeththere is provided spring member 36, shown as a whole in Fig, 4, having the head 31 which fits beneath one flange 22 at the base of the screw shell and is clamped bymeans of screw 24 between this flange. andinsulatlng button IS. The circumferentially curved intermediate portion of the spring extends arcuately around the screw shell and. then has the forwardly turned hook-likelend 38 which, as seen in Fig. 1, is so positioned that it can ride over the inclined edges of the teeth as the ring is being screwed clockwise into position to always drop in behind the straight edges thereof to prevent any unscrewing operation, so that once. the ring is screwed into position it isthere permanently, held by the dog 38 on theend of .thespring;

This type of receptacle may be made either with or without switching mechanism. Where switching mechanism is provided} it is universally of the pull chain type and'chain guide 391s secured to thesocket portion. It' extends through a slot 40 leading from the rear edge of the sleeve and thus insures against any relative rotation between the sleeve andthe socket part, and with this fixed relationship there can be no separation of the parts of the receptacle while looking dog 38 fits in the ratchet teeth. In the event that the receptacle is not of the pull chain type, other simple means are provided to insure against relative rotation between the sleeve'and the socket portion, such for instance as a notch in the interior wall of the sleeve anda co-operatingprotuberance on one of the insulating buttons of the socket portion; 4

There is sufficient 'clearancebetween thescrew ring but ofieringnoopposition position. a. 7 5. Ina lamp receptacle, in combination, a socket structure including a screw shell-and 'wire shell and the main inner bore of the sleeve to permit the screw shell to be inserted slightly off center from the rear of the sleeve in spite of the slight radial projection of the spring 36 beyond the diameter of the sleeve when the socket structure is centered.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent isz.

1. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a socket structure including an insulating button, a screw shell secured to one face of said button and wire terminals carried by said button; an insulating sleeve adapted to receive the socket structure from the rear and surround the button and terminals; means limiting movement of the button into the sleeve to allow most of the screw shell to project out beyond the front end of the sleeve; an insulating ringfor threaded engagement over said screw shell and having a shoulder for cooperation with said sleeve end toclamp a fixture flange for supporting the receptacle; meanspreventing'relative rotation of the socket structure and sleeve; ratchet teeth on said ring; a spring having one end clamped between the screw shell and button, and a' dog on the opposite end of the spring. p051 tioned' to engage the said ratchet teeth and positively prevent. unscrewing of said ring. I

2. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a socket structure including an insulating button, a screw shell mounted on one face thereof; an insulating sleeve .removably surrounding the button and base of said screw shell;,means on the socket structure and sleeve to limit movement of the socket structure through the sleeve in the direction of the screw shell; an insulating ring having threaded engagement over the screw .shell and presenting a shoulder in opposition to the frontend of the sleevev for clamping a fixture flange through which the screw shell passes; operating mearis on. the socket structure and ring and located on. the button sideof the said flange to: prevent counter-clockwise .movement. of the rin'gin respect to the screw shell to prevent loosening of the receptacle on the flange, said means permitting clockwise rotation of the saidring. I 3. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a socket structure includinga screw shell and wire terminals, insulation surrounding the terminals and base of the screw shell and presenting aforward shoulder, an insulation ring threaded over said screw shell and having a cooperating shoulder to clampa ceiling band flange, ratchet teeth on said ringjradially inwardly from said shoulder,

and'a locking dog on the socket structure concealed within said insulation to cooperate therewith to prevent removal of therlngbut offering no opposition to screwing it into position.

' 4. In a lamp receptacle, in combination, a

socket structure including a screwshell and wire terminals, insulation surrounding the terminals and base of the screw shell and presenting a'forward shoulder, an insulation ringthreaded over saidscrew shell and having a cooperating-shoulside of the said flange to prevent removal of the to screwing it into terminals, insulation surrounding the terminals and base of the screw shell and presenting a forward shoulder, an insulation ring threaded over said screw shell and having a cooperating shoulder to clamp a ceiling band flange to support said receptacle, a tubular projection of less diameter extending beyond said last mentioned shoulder and through the flange into a counterbore in said insulation, ratchet teeth integral with the circular end of said projection, and a locking spring carried by said socket structure and cooperating with said teeth.

MARK N. RUSSEll-l... 

